Corn-harvester.



I Nb. 772,452- PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

B. R. BENJAMIN & J. W. PRIDMORE. I

CORN HARVESTER.

APP-LIOATION FILED MAR. 2a, 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 772,452. PATENTED 001". 18, 1904. B. R. BENJAMIN & J. W.'PRIDMORE.

CORN HARVBSTBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

1 uu q N0.'v72,452. PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904. B. R. BENJAMIN & J.W.PRIDMORE.

CORN HARV'BSTER. APILIUATION rum) MAR. 28, 1903.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

N0 MODEL.

m1 26PM 'PATENTED ocT. 13,1904. B. R. BENJAMIN & J. w. PRIDMORE'. 001mHARVESTBR;

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1903.

no MODEL 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4 I PATENTED 001?. 15, 1904.; B. R. BENJAMIN &J.w. PRIDMORE.

CORN HARVESTBR. APPLICATION FILED M128, 1903.

i flETS-SHEET 5- I NO MODEL.

rum-um" If an." 1 mm" LIV-w No. 772,452. PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

B. R. BENJAMIN & J. W.-PRIDMORE.

001m HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1903;

a sunnTs-sminwa N0 MODEL.

PATENTED'0GT.18, 1904. B. R. BENJAMIN & J. W. PRIDMORB.

001m HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1903.

imminy 7 PATBNTED 001 18, 1904. B. R. BENJAMIN & J. W. .PRIDMORE.

CORN HARVESTBRQ APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 23, 1903.

a SHEETS-SHEET B.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES Patented October is, 1904. i

T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' BERT-R. BENJAMIN AND JOHN WV. PRIDMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF NFVV JERSEY.

' CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,452, dated October18, 1904. Application filed March 28, 1903. Serial No; 149,998. (Nomodell) T0 (LZZ whom it may concern: 7 Be itk'nown that we, Bnn'r R.BENJAMIN and JOHN W. PRIDMORE, citizens of-the United States, residingat Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters; .and we do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. 1

The invention has to do generally with that type of machines where thestanding stalks are cut and transferred to a platform or table,

which rotates slowly until a shock has accmulated thereon around acentral post, when the machine is stopped, the shock is compressed andtied around the top, and the post and shock together are lifted from theplatform by a crane and swung around to the rear and deposited on theground standing on end behind and to one side of the traction-wheel ofthe machine.

Specifically, the invention. relatesto the construction of the framingof the machine with the object of making it as light, strong, and rigidas possible; also, to the manner of communicating power from thetraction-wheel to the various moving parts, the purpose being tosimplify the gearing and to dispense with individual driving mechanismsand have all the parts operated directly from a single counter-shaft;also, to provide a temporary supplemental support located in suchposition that as the crane swings the shock rearward and changes thebalance of the machine it will preventthe machine from being tipped.

backward by the weight of the'shock; also, to the meansfor operating thetwo sets, of yielding compressor-fingers with which this class ofmachines is generally provided, the object here being to effect a quickrelease of the shock by simultaneously and positively opening thefingers at the proper time and quickly returning them to position toreceive a new shock.

The invention further comprises an improved means for carrying thecompressingcord and the binding-twine around the shock powerfularrangement whereby sufficient lev-.

erage on the post of the crane is secured to revolve it easily andpromptly when the entire weight of the shock is suspended from theoverhanging arm. Minor improvements in details of construction of otherparts of themachine will be explained as the description proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure l is a stubble side elevation of the machine, in which a portionof the tongue and the crane are shown broken away and the location ofthe gathering devices, tractionwheel, and the platform are indicated bydotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, inwhich the gathering devices are omitted andthe location of the tractionand supporting wheels and the platform are indicated by dotted lines.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the opposite side of the machinefrom that shown in Fig. 1, in which the location of the platform and thesupporting-wheel are indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryview of the platform, the

shield around the outer edge thereof, and the chute connected with saidshield through which the stalks are conducted from the cut tingapparatus to the platform. In this view the location of the lowergathering-chains is shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5is a perspective viewof the main frame, showing its structure. Fig. 6 is a plan view of aportion of the main frame, showing the location of the vertical postswhich carry the yielding compressorfingers and the connection betweensaid posts whereby the compressor fingers may be opened or separated andclosed simultaneously. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevationcorresponding to Fig. 1, showing the supplemental support and the meansfor revolving the crane. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the partsshowninFig. 7 Fig. 9 "is a detail showing the means for securing thecompressor-fingers to their respective posts. Figs. 10 and 11 aredetails of the construction of the chute through which the stalks passto the platform. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the upper portion of thecrane, showing the cord-carrier and the means for revolving the sameabout the shock. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the part shown in Fig. 12, inwhich the cord-carrier is shown about in its initial position.

Referring first more particularly to Fig. 5, a to denote fore-and-aftframe-bars lying one on each side of the traction-wheel. The front andrear cross-sills are denoted by Z) and 0, re spectively, and it will benoted that they are continuous clear across the frame in front and rearof the traction-wheel. The rear sill is preferably continued around therear outer corner of the frame, as at (Z, so as to form the fore-and-aftbar d at the outer side of the machine, and the frame is also providedwith intermediate cross-bars e, f, and g, extending from this outer sidebar tothe corresponding one extending along the inner side of thetraction-wheel.

The gathering-prongs are denoted at it and i, and preferably they arecontinuous from the rear sill to the points *5 and are secured atintermediate points to the cross-bars e, f, and g, bracing and beingbraced by said bars. Braces 7c are provided for these prongs. As hereshown, the inner one, 1', extends rearward to the cross-bar e and isfastened to this and the front sill. The outer one, Z7, is secured tothe outer end of the front sill and joins the outer side bar between thesills b and 0. Obviously these braces may be connected to the cross-barsat any other points and in any suitable manner; but it is desirable tofurther brace the inner prong by a diagonal supplemental brace Z, so asto give this prong as wide a base-support as the outer one. The brace Zis preferably continued to the rear and secured to the inner end of thecross-sill f.

The machine-frame as thus constructed is supported and balanced on theusual wheels, of which the outer one is adjustable in a casting. (Bestshown in dotted lines in Fig. The inner wheel is adjustable inquadrant-racks m m, that are secured at their lower ends to theframe-bars a a and are supported at their upper ends by arched bracesnn, and the front and rear sills of the frame are stiffened andprevented from bending down under the heavy weight imposed on them byadjustable tie-rods 0 0, secured at one end to the stubblecorners of theframe and at the other to the sills b c at points well out toward theopposite side of the machine. 7

The machine is to be provided with any suitable draft devices. As hereshown, it has a tongue pivoted at p to a casting secured to the extendedfront end of the inner frame-bar a, and the tongue is made adjustable bymeans of a hand-lever 9, that is secured to one end of a shortrock-shaft r, the other end of which is link-connected to a plate 8,extending from the tongue rearward of its pivot. The tongue preferablyhas a diagonal brace 1', extending to the inner prong and pivoted therein line with the pivot 71, and the lever 1 has the usual segment rackand latch for locking it in different positions to set the tongue higheror lower and correspondingly incline the frame.

The space between the prongs 5 forms the usual passage-way for thestalks, and on the prongs are mounted the usual guiding and deflectingboards If and f and the gathering and forwarding chains u. 1-. (Shown indotted lines in the first and fourth figures.)

On the grain side of the platform outside of the passage-way andimmediately in rear of the gathering-chains a standard 1 risesvertically from a seat :1: on the outer side bar 1/ and has its upperend bent horizontally to form a support for the rear end of theguide-board t". which is secured to it by clips 1 (Shown in Fig. 5.) Thestandard '11 is braced by diagonal tie-rods, such as .2', and inaddition to supporting the guide-board its horizontal part (0 forms aconvenient means for upholding and steadying an oscillating post 1/,which is journaled in a bearing-bracket a at its lower end and hassecured to it at appropriate intervals alongside its length the elasticlingers e for compressing the shock on the outer side. There may be anydesired number of these fingers. Two are shown herein secured directlyto the post, and a third, f, is fastened to a projection extending abovethe post, the latter being intended more especially for the tops of tallcorn. The form of these lingers is not of particular eonseq uence, andthey may be secured to the post in any way. 'lhey are here shown asformed of stout wire rods bent to the proper cur 'ature and fastened byclamps it, that are bolted to the post, so as to clamp the bent ends ofthe lingers thereto.

At the rear of the frame, on the opposite side of the passage-way andnear the rear corner of the traction-wheel, there is located anotheroscillating post, 11. Like the post it is journaled in a bearing-bracketj and has elastic lingers secured to it for compressing the shock on thestubble side opposite to the outer lingers e. The lingers are secured tothis post by clamps I in all respects like those securing the outerlingers to the post 1/, and they are curved in the reverse direction, sothat the two sets of lingers oppose each other and inclose and compressthe shock between them.

The post 2' is upheld and steadied by an arm m, which extends diagonallyforward and connects with a brace 12/, extending from the frontcross-bar near where the prongbrace Z crosses it upward to a sleeve m,that loosely encircles a crane-stamlard to be described later on.

The shock -compressing lingers e and 1 project toward each other, andbeing bent, as before described, receive the stalks from the rear end ofthe passage-way and compress ICO lOS

with the top part of the stalks.

in other figures in dotted lines.

them, so that the shock is compactly formed on the platform presently tobedescribed. In order to open the fingers promptly, so as to release theshock and permit it to be lifted off the table, the postsb and z" areprovided at their lower ends with crank-arms p and g, respectively, andan adjustable connectingrod r connects the arms together and rocks theposts simultaneously in opposite directions, so as'to move both sets ofcompressorfingers away from around the shock at the same time,thereby'quickly releasing the shock and as quickly returning thefingersto normal position after the shock .hasbeen removed. 1

In order to operate the posts in the manner just described, a lever s isattached. to the post 2". The lever is provided with a detent, and anotched or perforated locking-quadrant t is secured ,to the braces m(already described) and u, so that the crank may be locked to thequadrant in position to hold the compressorfingers open or secure theminclosed position around the shock.

the fingers in this way, is clearly indicated in Fig. 6, where they areshown closed in full any numberof compressor-fingers on the post a. Theymay be shaped and constructed in any suitable way; but the uppermost one(the one that acts on the tops only of the corn) is preferably formedwith a forwardly-extend ing end '0, which serves as a deflector toprevent the stalks f-rom falling befor'e they are engaged by theopposite set offingers, which might other-wise happen inview of the factthat their butts are suddenly advanced at the moment they reach theplatform on which the shock is formed. This platform is denoted 'by (0Figs. 4 and 11, where it is shown inpart in full lines, and its positionis indicated The construction of the platform proper and its immediateoperating mechanism form'no part of the present invention, and it istherefore not deemed necessary to describe it further than to say thatit is preferably round,as usual, and is provided on its upper surfacewith curved ribs or flanges 5 extending outward from the central part 0of the platform in a sort of spiral direction, extending first rearwardas regards the direction of the platforms rotation, as shown at 34,-Fig.4, and then forward in the direction of movement of the platform. Theobject of these flanges is to catch the butts of the stalks as the corncomes out of the rear end of the passage-way and cause them to movearound promptly The peculiar curvature of the flanges causes them towork the stalks in toward the center of the platform, so that a morecompact shock results, and-to still further assist in thus cen- Theoperation of oscillat- 'ing the posts 6 and 71, so as to open and closethe arrows, Figs. 2 and 4, this finger presses the butts of the stalksinward and cooperates with the forwardly and outwardly curved fingers togradually work the butts in close to the center. The platform has theusual central post,around which the shock is formed. It is denoted at 0Figs. 2, 4, and 12, and is removable or detachable from the platform inthe usual way. The post has radial arms f projecting from it neartheupper end and may be connected to the platform so as to be rotatedthereby or may be rotated by other means independently of the platform.

The platform and post are preferably supported and operated in'themanner illustrated and described in Patent No. 714,999, issued toBenjamin and Pridmore December 2,1902,

though the present invention is not to be understood as limited theretoor to any particu- .lar means forthis purposes As here shown, the post ais stepped in a bearing carried by a casting-g that is secured to andsupported by the cross-bars f and g of the machineframe. It may,however, be supported by the platform, if preferred. The platform islocated at the rear of the frame, with its center a little to thetraction-wheel sideof the line of the passage way. It is supportedaround its edge by antifriction-rollers if. The rearmost one of theserollers is carried by a bracket 6 that. projects from the framebar 0 andsupports the overhanging rear edge of the platform. Another-of therollers is journaled upon a short shaft 70 just outside of the pinion Zwhich rotates the platform.

Other rollers may be located at convenient points, and the central partof the platform may be supported by similar rollers located at suitablepoints. In Fig. 2 one of such rollers, f", is shown journaled on theshaft m by means of which the centralv post 6 is driven independently ofthe platform; but as to the whole manner of supporting and driving thepost and platform we desire it to be understood that the presentillustration and description is only intended to give a generalunderstanding of the arrangement, referencebeing made to the patentabove referred to for the details of the preferred thoughnot theessentialarrangement.

In thepresent invention there is provided in connection with theplatform a circular shield n extending all around the platform justinside of its outer edge. The object of this shield is to prevent thebutts of -the stalks from sliding off the platform and to hold. thelower part of the shock intact until it is ready to be removed. Theshield stands vertically, as shown in full lines in Fig. 11 and indotted lines in all the other figures, and extends above the level ofthe platform to about the point indicated. It is entirely independent ofthe platform and is supported at its rear side by the overhangingbracket 7?, to which it is secured at 0 Other points of support andattachment are located on the frame-bars around the shieldscircumference. At its front side in line with the stalk passage-waythere is an opening r in the shield, so as to permit the stalks to passonto the table, and the rear end of the passage-way is provided with aninclined chute or flooring Q2, extending from the cutting apparatus upto the level of the platform, and the chute is preferably provided withvertical side walls 8 having laterally projecting horizontal flanges twhich are extended downward and forward and secured to the prongs 72. i,as

shown in Fig. L, and the front part of the shield is secured to andsupported by the chutewalls, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 11. The stalksare carried on end up the chute by the forwarding-chains and passthrough the opening r onto the shock-forming platform and within theinclosure formed by the shield. As they pass onto the platform they arecarried around by the arms on the revolving post 6 the curved ribs orflanges on the surface of the platform, assisted by the yielding fingerd which projects through the slot 19 (see Fig. 3) in the shield, servingto carry the butts around and work them gradually in toward the center.

The cutting apparatus, (which may be of any preferred type,) thegathering devices already described, and the shock forming platform areall arranged to be driven from a single counter-shaft a As shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, this shaft extends along the front edge of theframe and is journaled in bearings 6 It is driven by a chain from thetraction-Wheel, and a clutch c is provided to permit its disengagementfrom the driving mechanism. At appropriate points the shaft a isprovidedwith pinions (Z 6 f and g for driving, respectively, the cuttingapparatus, the platform, the shock-forming post, and the gathering andforwarding chains. The pinion d meshes with a similar pinion on thecrankshaft lb to which the knife 2' is connected by the usual pitman.The pinion a which is conveniently made in one piece with the pin- I iond meshes with a pinion on the shaft 71?,

which drives the platform, as before described, and the shaft m whichdrives the platform-post, is gear-connected to the pinion f The pinionsg are gear-connected to the forwardly-inclined shafts i (shown in dottedlines in Figs. 1 and 4,) that drive the gathering and forwarding chains.The driving mechanism being as thus described, it will be noted that allthe operative parts are driven by a single shaft and that power isdistributed from this shaft to the several parts as desired. Thisarrangement is advantageous in that the gearing is simplified, a moredirect drive for the several parts is provided, and the location of theshaft brings all the gears to a convenient and accessible point. Ofcourse it will be understood that the two shafts L m. are required onlywhen the post 6 and the platform are independently driven. Should thepost be arranged to be driven by the platform, the shaft m and itspinions would be dispensed with and the gearing further simplified.

It has already been explained that the shocks in this type of machinesare lifted from the platform and swung around to the rear by a crane.The vertical post Z? of the crane in this machine is stepped on abearing 6, secured to the stubble side bar (0 outside of thetraction-wheel in rear of the axle. The post is braced by a collar mnear its upper end, in which and on its step't it turns freely. Thecollar is secured to the upper ends of inclined braces a a that aresecured at their lower ends, respectively, to the rear cross-sill c andthe front stubble corner of the frame, and it is also secured to theupper end of the brace n, before described, so that the crane as a wholeis firmly upheld and braced by a tripodlike frame, at the apex of whichthe collar m is located.

The crane-post is extended some distance above the collar and has an arm0" pivoted to it at 1' The arm is curved, as at 2, and overhangs thecentral part of the platform and is braced from the post by adjustablestraps Q3 8 so as to permit it to be set higher or lower, as required.It is provided with a hoisting-rope 15 which is secured at one end to ablock a and passes through a double sheave e on the upper end of theplatformpost, this rope constituting the means by which the post and theshock are lifted from the platform. The rope passes from the sheave u upto other sheaves, w, on the arm 0 and thence goes to a roller or wincha, which is journaled in bearings on the inclined braces '12. n and hasa hand-crank I)", by means of -which the rope maybe wound and the shockand post lifted vertically till both are free of the platform and abovethe edge of the shield n. hen in this position, the crane and its posthave to be turned so as to swing the shock rearward, and as the shock isvery heavy considerable force is required to revolve the crane. Wetherefore pivot a long lever c" to it, and a novel feature of theinvention consists in utilizing this lever as a support for the driversseat d. This we are enabled to do by pivoting the lever at the .rightheight and extending it sufiiciently far to the rear to secure apowerful leverage on the cranepost, in the first place, and, in the nextplace, to locate the seat in the right position for the Y a point aboutunder the center of the lever.

At this point they are connected together and secured to a saddle fwhich is adapted to fit loosely over a bracket g projecting laterallyfrom the side bar a. The lever is thus supported so as to bring the seatat the right elevation and so, also, that the saddle may easily belifted from the bracket and the lever be used to revolve the crane.

The bracket 9" and a similar bracket 9, projecting parallel with it fromthe frame-bar a nearer the crane-post, support a 'footboard I 9 whichextends along the stubble side of the rear part of the machine inconvenient position for the drivers left foot while occupying the seat.On the opposite side of the seat there is another footboard, 7t, thelatter board being supported by rearwardly-extending brackets 'Z",secured to the rear cross-bar c.

As will be best understood from the plan views, the platform is solocated and the frame so proportioned as to balance'the machine on thesupporting-wheels when a shock is on the platform, and considering thebefore-described method of depositing the shock it will be understoodthat this balance-will be destroyed when the weight of theshock is swungaround to the rear. This tends to tip the machine over backwardly andthrows up the tongue, and in order to prevent the rear part of themachine from actually falling we provide a temporary or emergencysupport which is preferably in the form of a shoe or runner which islocated just under the rear stubbleward corner of the machine, behindthe traction-wheel, as best shown in Fig. 2. This shoe is secured aboutmidway of its length to the lower end of a curved standard is, whichextends upward and slides through a keeper Z, secured to the rearcross-bar 0,

and adapted to be adjusted to different eleva tions by a dog m,projecting downward from a short shaft journaled in the keeper Z andadapted to look into any one of a series of openings 1?. along thestandard. The shaft of the dog has an arm 0 provided with a footpiece 0by means of which it may be operated from the drivers seat to release orlock the standard, a spring g being combined with the arm to makethe dogself-locking.

The shoe,-in addition to being secured to the standard is preferablyalso pivoted at its front end to a radius rod or link a that is pivotedat a point near the front corner of the frame, the object of this linkbeing not only to guide the shoe in its vertical movements, but also totake the strain off the standard when the shoe slides on the ground, asit sometimes does. machine this supplemental support is usually carriedin the positionindicated in dotted In the normal operation of the notsuflicientl y to throw the tongue far enough up to trouble the team.

There is no particular novelty in the con-' struction or arrangement ofthe overhanging arm of the crane and the shock-hoisting tackle alreadydescribed; butat the upper end of the arm, immediately over the postaround which the shock-forms on the platform, we pivot a down-hangingoutwardly-curved arm 6 which is provided at its lower end with a hookand latch c for the purpose of holding and carrying the cord forcompressing the shock and the twine with which it is to be bound. At itsupper end the arm has a grooved roller'or sheave 6Z5 secured to itspivot, and around this roller an endless rope 0 passes and extends downalong the arm 0 to a point within the reach of the operator, the ropepreferably passing-over guide-pulleysf on its way. The normal positionof this cord-carrying arm is shown in Fig. 13, where it is seen pointingforward and stubbleward. When the shock is formed and ready to bedeposited on the ground, the arm carrying the cord and twine is made torevolve around it by operating the rope 0 The shock is then compressedand bound, after which the arm is returned to normal position, thebinding-twine being again attached to the hook.

It is believed that the operation of the machine and all its workingparts have been sufficiently set forth in the above description to avoidthenecessity for further explanation.-

Therefore,

What we claim, and desire to secure, is

l. A corn-harvester frame,com prising front and rear cross-sillsextending beyond the traction-wheel, a fore-and-aft bar on each side ofthe wheel, and adjustable tie-rods underlying the cross-sills andsecured to the stubble corners of the frame at one end and to the sillsat points about midway betweenthe wheels.

2. A corn-harvester frame, comprising a fore-and-aft bar on the innerside of the traction-wheel, a tongue secured to a forward extension ofthe bar, an inner gathering-prong, a brace j for the prong, atongue-brace 6 extending rear ward and grainward to the prongbrace, anda brace Z extending from the prongbrace rearward and stubbleward andsecured near the rear end of the fore-and-aft bar.

3. A corn-harvester having a cutter, gathering devices, a rotatingshock-forming platform, and a central post on the platform comroobinedwith a traction-wheel, and a countershaft extending across the front ofthe machine and driven from the traction-wheel, said shaft having cutterand gatherer driving pinions 6Z3, 0 and g and a post-rotating pinionf.

4. A corn-harvester having a shock-forming platform, a rotary crane forlifting the shock from the platform and depositing it in rear of thetraction-wheel, and a supplemental support to prevent the weight of theshock as it swings rearward from tilting the machine, a curved standardto the foot of which the support is secured, means for releasablylocking the standard at different elevations, and a connection from thesupport to the front part of the machine.

5. A corn-harvester having a shoek-forming platform, a rotary crane forlifting the shock from the platform and depositing it in rear of thetraction-wheel, a'supplemental support to prevent the weight of theshock as it swings rearward from tilting the machine, said supportconsisting of a shoe, a curved standard to the foot of which the shoe isconnected, a link pivotally connected to the machine in front of theshoe and secured at its rear end to the shoe, a keeper in which thestandard slides, and a foot-operatable device for releasably locking thestandard at different elevations.

6. A corn-harvester having a shock-forming platform, a rotary crane forlifting the shock from the platform and depositing it in rear of thetraetion-wheel,and a supplemental support to prevent the weight of theshock asit swings rearward from tilting the machine, said supportconsisting of a shoe, a curved standard to the foot of which the shoe isconnected, a keeper in which the standard slides, a springactuated latchm, a series of perforations in the standard to receive the latch, afoot-piece p to operate the latch, and a link a pivotally connected atone end to the front part of the nlilachine and at the other end pivotedto the s 0e.

7. A corn-harvester having a passage-way for the corn, ashock-formingplatform in rear thereof, rotary posts located at the periphery of theplatform, oppositely-curved shock-supporting fingers carried by theposts, and means connecting the posts together and causing them torotate simultaneously so as to open the fingers and release the shock.

8. A corn-harvester having a passage-way for the corn, a shock-formingplatformin rear thereof, rotary posts on opposite sides of the platform,oppositely-curved shock-supporting fingers carried by the posts,crank-arms on the lower ends of the posts, a rod connecting the arms andcausing the posts to rotate together to open and close both sets offingers simultaneously, and means for rotating one of the posts.

9. A corn-harvester having a passage-way 5 for the corn, a shock-formingplatform in rear thereof, rotary posts on opposite sides of theplatform, oppositely-curved shock-su pporting fingers carried by theposts, crank-arms on the lower ends of the posts, a rod connecting thearms and causing the posts to rotate together to open and close bothsets of lingers simultaneously, a hand-crank secured to one of theposts, and a quadrant to which the crank may be locked so as to securethe tingers in open or closed position.

10. A corn-harvester having a passage-way for the corn, a shock-formingplatform in rear thereof, a post rising from the center of the platformaround which the shock is formed, a rotary post on the outer side of theplatform having curved shocksu1 )porting fingers, and means connected tothe side post and extending to the other side of the platform andpassage-way in position to be operated by the driver.

11. A corn-harvester having a passage-way for the corn, a shock-formingplatform in rear thereof, a rotary post located on the outer side of thepassage-way in rear of the gathering devices and having rearwardly andinwardly curved fingers, and a rotary post located near the rear, innercorner of the traction-wheel, and having forwardly and outwardly curvedshock-supporting lingers, the uppermost linger on said post having itsouter end bent back and extended forward so as to prevent the corn fromfalling.

12. A corn-harvester having a passage-Wu y for the corn, and a rotaryshock-forming platform, the surface of the table being provided withribs or fianges 7) extending from the center in a generally outwarddirection and curved baekwardly as at 3A and then forwardly in respectof the direction of the platforms rotation.

13. A corn-harvester having a passage-way for the corn, a rotaryshock-forming platform, a stationary upstanding guard or shield aroundthe edge to confine the butts of the corn, an inclined chute or floorleading from the level of the eutter to the platform, and an opening inthe shield in line with the passage-wry through which the corn may passonto the platform, the chute having side walls secured to the shield attheir rear ends.

let. A corn-harvester having a passage-way for the corn, guiding-prongson each side of said way, a rotary shock-forming platform, an upstandingguard or shield around the edge of the platform, an opening in theshield through which the corn may pass onto the platform, an inclinedchute or floor leading from the level of the cutter to the platform,side walls to the chute secured to the shield at their rear ends, andflanges extendinghori- Zontally from the upper edges of said walls andcontinued down and secured to the prongs in front of the cutter.

15. A corn-harvester having a shock-forming platform, a crane forlifting the shock and depositing it onthe ground, and a lever for rtating the crane, said lever hav ng the drivers seat secured to it.

depositing it-on the ground, a lever for rotat ing the crane, said leverbeing pivoted to the post, and provided with legs whereby it issupported by the machine-frame in a normally rearwardly-extendedposition, and a seat for the driver carried by the lever.

18. A corn-harvester having a shock-forming platform, a crane forlifting the shock and depositing it on the ground, said crane includinga post and a seat-support secured to the post and extending horizontallyso to serve as a lever to rotate the crane.

' 19. A corn-harvester havinga shock-forming platform, a crane forlifting the shock and depositing it on the ground, a lever 0 pivoted tothe post, a bracket g* on the frame, legs 0* depending from the leverand adapted to rest on the bracket, and a seat 0Z on the rear end of thelever.

20. A corn-harvester having a shock-forming platform, a crane forlifting the shock and depositing it on the ground, a lever 0 pivoted tothe post and having legs 6 to support it,

a bracket 9 on the frame, a saddle f secured to vthe supporting-legs andstraddling. the bracket, and the drivers seat secured to the lever. r

21. A corn-harvester having a shock-forming platform, an'arm overhangingthe center of the platform, an outwardly and downwardly extendingcord-carrier journaled at its upper end to the arm, and means forrotating the carrier to pass the cord around the shock.

22. A corn-harvester havinga shock-forming platform, an arm overhangingthe center of the platform, an outwardly and downwardly extendingcord-carrier journaled at its upper end to the arm, a pulley on thejournal end of, the carrier, and an operating-cord extending around thepulley andcarried down into convenient position for the driver to reach.

23. A corn-harvester having a shock-form ing platform, a central postthereon, a crane for lifting the shock from the platform, and depositingit on the ground, an outwardly and downwardly extending cord-carrierjournaled in the overhanging arm of the crane, and'means extended intoposition to' be reached by the driver whereby he may rotate the carrierand pass the cord around the shock.

24. A corn-harvester having a shock-forming platform, a central postthereon, an over hanging crane-arm for lifting the shock from theplatform, and depositing it on the ground,

an outwardly and downwardly extending cordcarrier 6 having a groovedoperating wheel or pulley d5 at its upper end and journaled in theoverhanging crane-arm, and an endless operating-rope e by means of whichthe driver may rotate the carrier and pass the cord around the shock.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

' BERT R. BENJAMIN.

JOHN W. PRIDMORE. Witnesses: Y

J. J. BUTLER, CHAs. N. CHAMBERS.

